Bálint Tóth

Bálint Tóth

BÁLINT TÓTH (1929 - 2017), poet, writer, translator. From 1951 to 1955 he was imprisoned on charge of conspiring against the state. While serving his term he joined the Füveskert group of imprisoned poets. He was granted amnesty in 1955. In November 1956 he became a member of the presidium of the Revolutionary Committee of Political Prisoners. He was arrested and held from June to December 1957, suspected of espionage, but was freed without a charge. Regular member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts. His prizes include: József Attila Prize (1984), József Attila Prize (1990, Cleveland), Giorgio La Pira Prize for Poets and Prose Writers (1992), Nagy Imre Memorial Plaque (1997).

IN THE MORNING THE HANGMAN

In the morning the hangman took your measurementsthen cursed ‘cause he got it wrong,and hanged the kid from the neighbouring cellthe one they brought in last night,who screamed all night, pounded on the doorthat he wanted to live, threw up on his bunk,passed out in the end, they dumpeda bucket